What are the best Aperture, Shutter and ISO settings for shooting a sunset?

Question

I have a Fujifilm S700 and in the "sunset" mode, I cannot use the auto bracketing.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Just take a meter reading off of the sky, but do not inclulde the sun in the reading area. Set the camera manually or my holding the button half-way down, recompose and shoot.

Answer 2

can't you review your pictures after shooting? sunset takes in a LOT of territory. Some of the deepest color can occur almost a half hour after sunset. setting the ISO higher than 100 is not called for, use longer shutter as there is no need to stop action. turning off the autowhite balance, and using a daylight preset should give better color saturation. With the sun above the horizon, meter for the open sky, with the sun just below the horizon, meter for the zone just above where the sun was. Late sets with film meter normally and use the reciprocity failure of the film to darken the exposure. Digitally you really need to review the exposure in the LCD to see if you are picking up sufficient color.

If you have a subject that you are going to illuminate with flash during the set, then that entails a whole lot of additional considerations, no rule of thumb will cover all bases.

Answer 3

Use a low ISO such as 100.

Use manual mode and you'll be able to bracket exposures.

I didn't read the review fully so I don't know if you have EV settings. If you do, just set the camera to Aperture Priority and let it set the shutter speed. Make your exposure and then make one at -1 EV and then one at +1 EV.

Answer 4

ISO maybe 400, aperature wide shutter speed medium but not too long cause the sun can move fast (slippery little devils, they are) Built-in metering might overexpose due to brightness so you might want to use exposure compensation but it depends entirely. Just take a bunch of shots to be safe in different modes and eventually you'll find what's best.